Where There’s Smoke…

May 5, 2004

Dear Editor,

Why on earth would the City Council exempt movies from the Santa Monica Pier smoking ban? Especially since having someone smoke on the smoking-prohibited pier now would be unrealistic? Do Hollywood actors just HAVE to smoke EVERYWHERE? Kevin Spacey can't hold off smoking for the two minutes of film time he's on the pier? ("Clearing up the Smoking Ban," May 3, 2004)

Of course, being unrealistic about smoking is nothing new for Hollywood, as it floods the screen with glamorous portrayals of film idols puffing away out of all proportion to real smoking rates.

Next time you see a bunch of kids smoking, you can thank this despicable, irresponsible industry, which is doing a far greater job of knowingly addicting kids to a deadly drug than the tobacco industry could ever hope for.

Gene Borio

New York, N.Y.